Friends of Olympia Station

Friends of Olympia Station, better known as Tandy Beal and Company, presents multicultural performances of dance, music, circus arts, and theater. The Santa Cruz organization reaches audiences of all ages, but the majority are K-12 students in school settings. School-based programs serving over 15,000 students each year include performing artist residencies and performances, as well as workshops in empathy and kindness. The organization trains teaching artists and classroom teachers to integrate arts-based learning into classroom curricula, in alignment with the State of California’s education standards. Friends of Olympia Station also presents the work of its founder, Tandy Beal, a choreographer and dancer. This grant supports the Performing Arts Program’s Communities strategy.

Friends of Olympia Station, doing business as Tandy Beal and Company, presents performances that incorporate dance, music, circus arts, and theater. Each year, the organization presents more than 65 performances to 19,000 audience members, and provides performing arts education, artists-in-residence services, and performances to more than 10,000 students in more than 30 schools. Tandy Beal and Company also trains teaching artists and classroom teachers to integrate arts-based learning into the school day. This grant supports the Performing Arts Program’s Communities strategy.

Since 1974, Friends of Olympia Station (doing business as Tandy Beal and Company) has developed a unique performance style that integrates theater, music, and circus arts to generate imaginative and thought-provoking new works. Each year more than 10,000 people experience the company’s multicultural arts programming, which includes a family concert series showcasing a variety of Santa Cruz and Monterey county artists. Its ArtSmart program annually reaches students in more than 30 schools, and trains artists and classroom teachers to integrate arts-based learning into the school day. Renewed funding will enable the organization to expand its arts education offerings to meet increasing demand, and build staff capacity.